Electric testing apparatus.



0. R. BUTLER. ELECTRIC TESTINGAPPARATUS. I APPLICATION FILEDFEB. 15J1912. 1 6 1 Q 1 Patented Dec. 3, 1912.

l 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

me maa G. R. BUTLER.

ELECTRIC TESTING APPARATUS. APPLIOATIONTILED FEB.15, 1912.

Patented D60. 3, 1912.

2 SHEETSSHEBT z.

11 l-lll-l MOM/W13 CHARLES R. BUTLER, OF CARTI-IAGE, INDIANA.

ELECTRIC TESTING APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

LOMLMLS.

- Application filed February 15, 191;2. Serial No. 677,822. i

To (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES R. BUTLER,

' a citizen of the United States, residing at. Carthage, in the countyof Rush and State of Indiana, have invented a new and useful ElectricTesting Apparatus, of which the following is a specification.

In the'operation of electrical sparking: ap

paratus, such as the ignition apparatus for internal combustion engines,1t is of the utmost importance that the sparks occur ex- 1 ing system beactly at the proper points and that the wirfreefrom grounds or leaks.

' Failure in these particulars, especially in troubles; which are notonly hard to locate,

automobile work, are productive of many but are often blamed on someother part of working from the final results,

- provide for this kind the equipment, most frequently on thecarbureter.

It is the object of my present invention to .of electrical appara tus atesting apparatus which is readily transportable, is easily operable,and, while indicates directly the character and approximate amount ofthe necessary remedy.

In attaining this object- I provide a rotatable member which ispreferably readily connectible t0 the 'shaft .of a. magneto or otherapparatus, and two electrodes rotatable relatively to each other by suchmovable member. One of these electrodes, preferably the normallystationary one, is provided with some ,angle-indicating mechanism suchas a protractor; and one of them is provided with a connecting device bymeans of which it can readily be connected, if desired'throughanadjustable spark gap, to desired points in the electric system to betested. The testing apparatus is also preferably provided with anadjustable table, for supporting proper relation to the aforesaidrotatable member; and is so light and compactthat it may be used fortesting electrical apparatus such as a magneto, without the necessityfor disconnecting the latter, thus enabling the whole Wiring system, asactually in use, to

' be-tested.

The various novel features of my invention Will appear from thedescription and drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in theclaims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of a testing apparatusembodying my invention, a magneto in proper position a magneto or otherdevice in.

' mechanism,

for test being indicated in dotted lines, Fig. Qis a section on the line2-42 of Fig. 1; Fig.

3 is an end elevation of the device shown in Fig. 1, looking from theleft; Fig. 4 a section on larged longitudinal section through the clampand bushing for supportingthe spark g 15:;

line 4-4 of Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is'an en ,,Patcnt'ed Dec. 3, 1912.

gap finger; and Fig. 6 shows .my testing ap paratus as uscd'for testingthe ignition of an internal combustion engine with make-andbreakignition.f I

The base 10 is provided at one end with a head-stock 11 supporting inits two spaced bearings a longitudinal shaft 12 provided with anoperating handle 13, and preferably a flywheel 1d, at its outer end, andwith a chuck 15 or other suitable connecting mechanism at its inner end.By means of the chuck 15, the shaft 12 may be connected to a shaft 16 ofa magneto 17 or other device to be tested. If the device to be testedhas no shaft of its own for convenient attachment to the chuck 15, itmay be mounted in any suitable manner on a special shaft provided forthe purpose and clamped in the chuck 15. If desired, the connectionbetween the shaft 12 and th'e device to be tested-may be by gearing or.its equivalent, and may be at any desired speed ratio.

For supporting magnetos or other devices While beingtes ted, a table 20is provided at the other end of the base 10 from the head stock 11. Thistable is preferably adjustable in height, as by having a threadedsupporting stem 2l'screwed into a socket near the end of the base 10,said socket being slotted at 22 so that by means of ascrew 23 the stem21 may be clamped, if desired, in adjusted position. However, it isfrequently desirable not to tighten the screw 23 during a test, thusallowing the table to tilt slightly in case the shaft 16 of thesupported magneto requires such tilting in order properly to aline withthe shaft 12.

During test a magneto is preferably clamped to the table 20 by somesuitable the clamping mechanism now preferred comprising a chain-24which can be passed over the magneto and hooked into opposite ones of aseries of notches 25 in the periphery of the table 20. The chain can betightened by means of a hook 26 engaging one of its ends and providedwith av Wing nut 27 engaging the under side of the table and thethreaded end of the hook. V A frame -30, preferably removably at-'preferred. arrangement, the electrode 32 comprises a protractoradjustable by a handle 33 and supported by a sleeve 34 journaled in theframe 30'and itself forming a bearing for the co-axial shaft 35 carryingthe electrode 31. The shaft 35 is driven from the shaft 12 by anysuitable gearing,

preferably having a 11 gear ratio; in the arrangement shown this gearingcomprises the two spiral gears 36 and 37. Though the shaft 35 carriesthe electrode 31, it is electrically insulated therefrom, as by a disk38 of insulation fixed to the end of the shaft 35 and having the fingerelectrode 31 projecting from its periphery. The outer end of the fingerelectrode 31 moves over the protractor of the electrode 32, and is bentin toward such protractor, .but not into engagement therewith, The innerendof the finger electrode is connected to a metal button 39 set intheface of the insulatin disk 38 and cooperating with a spark gap nger 40supported in an insulating bushing 41 in a clamp 42 on the base 10. Thefinger 40 is electrically connected, within the bushing 41, to one endof the cable 43, of which the other end is provided with a suitablespring clip 44 or other suitable, and preferably readily detachable,connecting device. The spark gap finger 40 is provided with an adjustinghandle 45, preferably of insulating material; by means of this handlethe distance between the end of the spark gap finger and the button 39may be adjusted as desired.

Assume that a magneto 17 is in the position indicated in Fig. 1, andthat the clip44 is connected to some point onthe electrical system, suchas a terminal of the magneto or of the distributer 50 driven from themagneto. If now shaft 12, and consequently the magneto shaft 16,is'op'erated by the handle 13, the sparks produced bythe magneto willtake place between the electrodes 31 and 32. Step-up transformers,.orjumpspark induction coils, may be used when necessary to obtain thesparks, such coils being common in automobile work; As the electrode 31is moving at the same angular speed as the shafts 12 and 16, the exactlocation of these sparks may be-noted onthe protractor of the electrode32, this location being readable with surprising ease and ac curacyalthough the finger electrode 31 is moving. Sparks being produced bymost magnetos at every 180 of movement of the magneto armature,thesparks between the electrodes 31 and 32 should be 180 apart on theprotractor if the clip 44 is connected to receive all the impulses fromthe magneto.

For ease in reading, the stationary electrode 32 may be adjusted by thehandle 33 to bring one of the sparks at zero reading. It usually occursin commercial magnetos that the cams on the circuit breaker 51 of themagneto will not operate to produce sparks at exactly 180-apart. The.error, if any, will be noted on the protractor, and from the error thusnoted the cams may be adjusted, as by a few strokes of a slip stone orby raising them on paper shims, until the sparks occur on the protractorat exactly 180 apart.

If instead of a circuit-breaker on the shaft of a magneto there is acommutator driven at a suitable speed reduction from such shaft, thesparks produced when this commutation is driven at the speed of theshaft 12 may be spaced otherwise than 180 apart; as, for instance, 90 or60 apart. In case the sparks are not exactly spaced, the (proper partsof the commutator may be ressed' down or otherwise adjusted to bringthem into exact relation. The exact location of any error is indicatedby moving the handle 13 until the finger electrode 31 is at the place iwhere the improperly located spark occurred, at which time the cam ofthe circuit: breaker or the contact of the commutator will be in workingposition with its cooperatingparts, and proper correction is directlyindicated.

In case of grounds or leakage. in the machine to be tested or its wiringsystem, indication to that effect will be given by the relativecharacter of the different sparks pro.- duced on the protractor as wellas by the elimination of some but not all of the sparks by a movement ofthe spark" gap arm 40 away from the button 39. In testing the wiring,the clip 44 may be attached to various points of the wiring, or to thespark plug terminals of the different cylinders of the engine, and thelocation and character of the spark, produced between the electrodes 31and 32 noted.

Tests of the Wiring system of an automobile maybe made-without inany waydisturbing such wiring system, for the preferred form of my'testingapparatus is quite light and readily portable, and may be placed uponthe sill of the automobile and the magneto shifted the short distancenecessary to move it from its normal place in the machine to the table20. This shifting can be accomplished. without changing the electricalconnections of the magneto.

There are a number of uses to which my testing apparatus may be putother than the particular ones to which I have already called attention,these uses readily suggesting themselves to persons familiar withspark-producing apparatus. It is not deemed necessary to attempt topoint out specifically all such uses; but as all those heretoforeconsidered have related to high tension devices immediately capableofpros' ducing the spark between the electrodesof my testing apparatus,it may be of value to show its application to one form of low-tenand 62are in engagement, and Will sion apparatus.

' Fig. 6 shows such an arrangement. Suppose it be desired definitely todetermine the spark-producing action in a four cylinder internalcombustion engine 60 provided with the sc-called low-tension or ignitionsystem. The ignition spark is produced in each cylin der upon theseparation of a movable contact 61 from a stationary insulated contact(52, these two contacts being in series with a self-induction or singlecoil spark coil 63 supplied from a battery 64 or other source ofelectro-motive force. lheseparation of the contacts 61 and 62 iseffected in any usual manner, as by cams 65 driven from a cam shaft 66,which in fourcycle engines usually rotates at one-half the speed of theengine crank shaft. To test this system, my apparatus may be suitablymechanically connected to some rotating point of the engine, at anydesired speed ratio. Usually the most convenient manner of connecting itis by cranking the chuck 15 directly on the'cam shaft 66 as illustrated.Then a battery 67 and the primary of an induction coil 68 in series areconnected to the ignition system in parallel with the battery 64 andspark coil 63', the connection being conveniently made by means of aclip 69 to one of the insulated contacts 62, and by a similar clip 70 tosome grounded part of the engine or testing apparatus. Thisgroundconnection is common to both primary and secondary of the induction coil68, the ungrounded side of the secondary being connected to the sparkgap arm 40 by the cable 43 and the clip 44. The induction coil 68 servesas a step-up transformer to produce atension sufiicient to produce thedesired spark for the testing apparatus.

If the induction coil 68 is a non-vibrating coil, the rotation of theengine will cause a spark to occur between the electrodes 31 and 32 atthe moment of the separation of any pair of contacts 61 and 62 toproduce a spark in one of the cylinders, and the relation between thesparks in the difierent cylinders may be determined by the directreading on the protractor. If the coil 68 is a vibrating coil, thevibrator 71 thereof will produce a continual makeand-break of theprimary circuit of such coil during the whole time any two cotiperatingcontacts 61 cease upon the separation of such contacts. This alsoenables a direct reading to be'obtained upon the protractor, but 'herethe reading will be at the points where the sparks between theelectrodes 31 and 32 cease. These tests do not interfere with the normaloperation of the engine, and therefore, may be made when theengineisbeing moved either by its ownpoWer -or by external power.Although Ighavedescribed my invention make-and-brea k as applied "totesting ignition systems for internal combustion engines, it is equallyapplicable to the testing of many other systems. Moreover, it is capableof consider able modification from the preferred em.- bodimentillustrated. I aim to cover all applications and modifications which donot involve a departure from the spirit and scope of my invention as setforth in the following claims.

What I claim as new is:

1. An electrical testing apparatus comprising a continuously rotatablemember for mechanical connection to a rotatable device to be tested, anadjustable table for supporting the device to be tested in properrelation to pair of cooperating electrodes insulated from each other andone rotatable relatively to the other by the movement of said rotatablemember and at the same speed as the latter, and means for electricallyconnecting one of said electrodes to a desired point on the device to betested.

2. An electrical testing apparatus comprising a continuously rotatablemember for mechanical connection to a rotatable device to be tested, anadjustable. table for supporting the device to be tested in properrelation to the aforesaid rotatable member, a pair of cooperatingelectrodes insulated from each other and one rotatable relatively to theother by the movement of said rotatable member, and means forelectrically connect ing one of said electrodes to a desired point onthe device to be tested.

3. An electrical testing apparatus comprising a continuously rotatablemember for mechanical connection to 'a rotatable device to be tested, apair of cooperating electrodes insulated from each other and onerotatable relativelyto the-other by'the movement ofthe aforesaidrotatablemember, a.

said rotatable member and at the same speed "to be tested, a pair ofcooperating electrodes insulated from each other and one rotatablerelatively to the other by themovement of said rotatable member, andmeans for electrically connecting one of said electrodes to a desiredpoint on'the device to'be tested.

5. An electrical testing apparatus, comprising a rotatable shaftprovided with means for drivingly connecting it to a rotatable electricdevice'to be tested, a table vertically adjustable to support the deviceto be tested in proper relation to such shaft.

meansfor clamping the device to be tested to said table, a pair ofelectrodes insulated from each other, one. of, said electrodes hav ingthe form'of a prptractor and the other that of a finger movable oversaid protrac- .and at the speed thereof, means for adjust- 'ing saidelectrodes angularly relatively to each other Without movement of saidshaft, and means for electrically connecting one of said electrodes to adesired point on the apparatus to be tested.

6.'An electrical testing apparatus, comprising a rotatable shaftprovided Withmeans for drivingly connecting it to a rotatable' electricdevice'to be tested, a table vertically adjustable tosupport the deviceto be tested iriproper relation tosuch shaft, a pair of electrodesinsulated from each other, one

of said electrodes having the form of a pro tractor and the other thatof a finger movable over said protractor at a slight distance therefrom,means for rotating one of said electrodes relativelyto the other by themovement of the shaft and at the speed thereof, means for adjusting saidelectrodes angularly relatively to eachother without. movement of saidshaft, and means for electrically connecting one of said electrodes to adesired point on the apparatus to be tested.

7. An electrical testing apparatus, comprising a rotatable shaftprovided with means for drivingly connecting it to a rotatable electricdevice to be tested, a pair of electrodes insulated from each other, oneof said electrodes having the form of a protractor and. the other thatof a finger movable over said protractor at a slight distance therefrom,means for rotating one of said electrodes relatively to theother by themovement of the shaft and atthe speed thereof,

means for adjusting said electrodes angu-'.

larly relatively toeach other without movement of said shaft, and means.for electrically connectingone of said electrodes to a desired point onthe, apparatus to be tested.

8. An electrical testing apparatus, comprising a rotatable shaft'provided with means for drivingl-y connecting it to a rota-.

table electric device to be tested, a table vertically adjustable tosupport the device to be tested in proper relation to such shaft, meansfor clamping the device'to be tested to said table, a pair of electrodes*insulated from each other, one of said electrodes having the form of aprotractor and theother that of a finger movable over said protractor ata slight distance therefrom,'means for rotating one of said electrodesrelatively to the other by the movement'of the shaft, 'means foradjusting said electrodes angularly relatively to each other withoutmovement of said shaft, and means for electrically connecting one ofsaid electrodes to a desired point on the apparatus to be tested.

9. An electrical testing apparatus, com-' prising a rotatable shaftprovided with means for drivingly connecting it to a rotatable electricdevice to be tested, a table vertically adjustable to support the deviceto be tested in proper, relation to such shaft, a

means for electrically connecting one of said electrodes to adesiredpoint on the apparatus to be tested.

10. An electrical testin apparatus, comprising a rotatable shaftprovided with means for drivingly connecting it to a rotatable electricdeviceto be tested, a pair of electrodes insulated from each other, oneof said electrodes having the form of a protractor and the other that ofa finger movable over said protractor at a slight distance therefrom,means for rotating one of said electrodes relatively to the other by themovement of the shaft, means for adjusting said electrodes angularlyrelatively to each other Without movement of said shaft. and means forelectrically connecting one of said electrodes to a desired point on theapparatus to be tested.

11. An electrical testing apparatus, comprising a rotatable shaftprovided with means for drivingly connecting it to a rotatable electricdevice to be testedfa table vertically adjustable to support the deviceto be tested in proper relationto such shaft, means for clamping thedevice to be tested to said table, a pair of electrodes insulated fromeach other, one of said electrodes having the-form of a protractor andthe other thatof a fin'ger movable over said protraotor at a .slightdistance therefrom, means for.

rotating one of said'electrodes relatively to the other by the movementof-the shaft and at the speed thereof, and means for electricallyconnecting one of said electrodes to a desired point on the apparatus tobe tested.

12. An electrical testing apparatus, comprising a rotatable shaftprovided with.

means for drivingly connecting it to a .ro,- tatable electric device tobe tested, a table vertically adjustable to support the device to betested in properv relation to such shaft, a pair of electrodes insulatedfrom each other, one of said electrodes having the form of a protractorand the other that of a finger movable over said prot-ractor at a slightdistance therefrom, means for rotating one of said electrodes relativelyto the other by themovement of the shaft and at the speed thereof, andmeans for electrically connecting one of said electrodes to a desired.point on theIa-pparatus to be tested.

tance therefrom, means forrotating one of said electrodes relatively tothe other bythe movement of the shaft and at the speed thereof, andmeans for electrically connecting one of said electrodes to adesiredpoin't on the apparatus to be tested.

v 14, An electrical testing apparatus, comprising a rotatable shaftprovided with means for drivi-ngly connecting it to a 1'0- tatableelectric device tobe tested, a table vertically adjustable to supportthe device to be tested in proper relation to such shaf t,

means for clamping the device to be tested to said table, a pair ofelectrodes insulated from each other, one of said electrodes having thelform of a protractor and the other that of a finger-movable over saidprotractor. at a slight distance therefrom, means for rotating one ofsaid electrodesrelatively to the other by the movement of the shaft, and

means for electrically connecting one of said electrodes to a desiredpoint on the apparatus to be testedg'" 15. An electrical testingapparatus, comprising a rotatable shaft provided with means fordrivingly' connecting it to a rotatable electric device to be tested, atablev vertically adjustable to support the device to be tested inproper relation to such shaft, a

pair of electrodes insulated from each other,

one of said electrodes having the form of a protractor and the otherthat of a finger movable over said protractor at a slight distancetherefrom, means for rotating one of said electrodes relatively tothe-other by the movement of the shaft, and means' for electricallyconnecting one of said electrodes to a desired point on the apparatus tobe tested.

16.] An electrical testing apparatus, comprising a rotatable shaftprovided with,

means for drivingly connecting it to a rotatable electric. device to betested, a pair of electrodes insulated-from leach other,-one ofsaideelectrodes having the form of aprotractor and the/other that of afinger movable over said protractor at a slight distance therefrom,means for rotating one of said electrodes relatively to the other by the"movement of the shaft, and means for'electrical-ly connecting one ofsaid electrodes to a desired point on the apparatus to be tested.

17, -An electrical testing apparatus, comprising a rotatable shaftprovided with -means for drivingly connecting it toa rotatable electricdevice to be tested, a pair of electrodes insulated from each' other,one of said electrodes having the form of a protractor and theother thatof a finger movable over said protractor at a slight distance therefrom,means'for rotatingjoneof said electrodes relatively] to the. other bythe movement of the shaft, an arm insulated from and movable relativelyto one of said electrodes to form a, spark gap between it and suchelectrode, and means for connect-- ingsaid arm to a desired .point onthe device to be tested. Y

CHARLES R. BUTLER. [1. 5.] 4

' Witnesses G. B. SonLnY, FRANK F AHLE.

